I’ve discovered another really great book on natural dyeing! Indigo, Madder, and Marigold by Trudy Van Stralen is a thoroughly enjoyable read. It’s got lots and lots of gorgeous photos, and great tips on doing large dye runs. She tells a little bit about herself and how she dyes (outdoors in these enormous, wonderful dye pots!) and how she manages to keep everything straight. There’s a great idea for a natural dye workshop, if you’re planning to teach a group of people, and some tips on streamlining long dyeing days.

Then she goes through dyestuff by dyestuff and explains how she likes to use it, what it does with which mordants, and what it looks like at different percentages and on different fibers. The photos are eye-popping. This is one I’d like to add to my personal collection eventually, as it makes a good reference book. You just flip to the section on mordants or pick a dyestuff and read up.